In September 1870, local citizens of Hill County, Texas refused to cooperate with the TSP in moving against the Kinch West gang; and in December 1870 Hill County citizens blocked the TSP from arresting the killers of a freedmen couple.[2]

Some state police members certainly deserved criticism. Captain Helm, for instance, was accused of murdering prisoners; he was fired, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Others committed crimes for which the charges were dropped as soon as headquarters was advised. James Davidson, the chief of the state police, embezzled $37,435 and disappeared in 1872.[2][3]

On April 22, 1873, the law authorizing the state police was repealed. Former policeman Leander H. McNelly and at least thirty-six other state police members then became officers in the reincarnated Texas Rangers force.[1]

Of nine members of the TSP known to have been killed in the line of duty, privates Jim Smalley was killed in 1871, also by John Wesley Hardin[4]. Four other members died as a result of a shootout on March 14, 1873.[5]

^ {Hardin had escaped following his arrest for the alleged involment in the murder of ex-Texas State Policeman and Waco Texas Town Marshal Laban John Hoffman January 6, 1871. (Hardin denied being involved in Hoffmans killing]

^Note: Outlaw William P. Longley later claimed to have killed members of the Texas State Police in the period 1866–1869 (which was before it had come into existence).